Three-team Kevin Love trade official

Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today
2:46 p.m. EDT August 23, 2014

Australian forward Brad Newley (C) is challenged by US forward Kevin Love (L) and US forward LeBron James during their London 2012 Olympic Games men's quarterfinal basketball match in London on August 8, 2012. James and Love will become teammates in Cleveland now that the three-team deal sending Love to the Cavaliers is ready to go.
(Photo:
AFP/Getty Images
)

What was talked about since the minute All-Star forward LeBron James decided to re-join the Cleveland Cavaliers and what was confirmed anonymously in early August finally is a done deal.

The Cavaliers acquired forward Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Cavaliers sent 2014 No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins and 2013 No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Bennett to the Timberwolves, two people with knowledge of the trade told USA TODAY Sports. The people requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak on the deal until it was publicly announced.

The Philadelphia 76ers also were involved in the trade, sending Thaddeus Young to the Timberwolves for guard Alexey Shved and forward Luc Mbah a Moute, along with the rights to the Miami Heat's 2015 first-round pick through the Cavaliers.

Saturday was the first day Wiggins could be traded following the league-imposed 30-day grace period after signing his rookie contract on July 24. But USA TODAY Sports reported the tentative deal weeks ago and the final version involving the 76ers on Thursday.

The Cavaliers were already a strong contender to win the Eastern Conference, but adding Love to James and point guard Kyrie Irving gives the Cavaliers three All-Starts in the starting lineup and makes them a strong favorite to win the NBA championship.

Add young shooting guard Dion Waiters and forward Tristan Thompson to proven veterans such as Anderson Varejao and NBA champions Mike Miller, James Jones and Shawn Marion. They give Cleveland a deep and versatile team.

James is thrilled to have Love on his team. Two weeks ago at his charitable foundation's annual event in Akron, Ohio, James talked about prospect of Love joining the Cavaliers.

"If he comes aboard, I can tell you I'm going to be very excited to have him," James said. "He's one of those guys who – I don't care about the 26 (points per game) and 12 (rebounds per game), I care about the basketball IQ. His basketball IQ is very, very high.

"I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully it happens. Hopefully everything is done right from a league rules standard. But it's a great piece."

But James cautioned it may take time for the Cavs to develop and become championship ready, just as it took time for the 2010-11 Heat to find their way.

"That's not many guys on our roster that's done some great things," James said in Akron two weeks ago. "So I'm going to have teach and lead and inspire those guys. … It's still going to be a process. Even in my first year in Miami we went through a process and some tough times. …

"Even with the veterans that we brought in and even if we're able to acquire Kevin Love two weeks from now, it's still going to be a process. I know that firsthand. It was a process when I was here in Cleveland to get to the Finals in '07. … It's always a process each and every year. It will be a challenge for us. In order to be successful, you've got to have some pitfalls."

Plus, the Cavaliers have a new coach, David Blatt, who has had a successful career in Europe but has never coached in the NBA.

While the Timberwolves are rebuilding, they are also intent on fielding a competitive team. Timberwolves president and coach Flip Saunders and general manager Milt Newton are shaping the team in their vision.

Wiggins has the upside to be a superstar, while Bennett disappointed as a rookie but is in much better shape. Young, meanwhile, gives them a proven scorer who averaged 17.9 points a game last season as the 76ers' leading scorer.

The 76ers made the trade with the intention of getting more future assets, a strategy employed by 76ers President Sam Hinkie at perhaps unseen levels over the past few seasons. Mbah a Moute and Shved have expiring contracts to free up salary cap space for next offseason.

For the Timberwolves, this trade is about the future.

For the the Cavaliers, this trade is about the present and winning a championship as quickly as possible.

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Kevin Love, left, is one of the best power forwards in the NBA and soon will rejoin 2012 Olympics teammate LeBron James with the Cavaliers. Flip through this gallery to see the path he took.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports

Love and the Clippers' Blake Griffin have an ongoing rivalry for the title of best power forward, which started during Griffin's rookie season when the title was best young power forward.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports